INTRODUCTION
This tour takes you through some of the very best of Lake District scenery. You will drive along the shores of Windermere with views across to the Langdale Pikes. After passing through Ambleside you will drive along the shores of Rydal Water and Grasmere. Crossing Dunmail Raise Pass you will see Thirlmere below and drive along the wooded shore. The road winds on to Keswick where there is another lakeshore drive along Derwentwater. The valley narrows and eventually you will take the hairpin bends over Honister Pass. The descent is also steep and soon you will be driving along the shores of Buttermere. Park in the village and take short walks to Buttermere and Crummock Water.
LOCATION
Buttermere is located in the north west of the Lake District. It is surrounded by towering mountains and the village lies between two lakes. Neither have been commercialised so there is the opportunity to see the real Lake District - Buttermere has a working village community with farms, fields, lakes, forests and mountains.
If you wish not to return by the same route you can drive along the shores of Crummock Water to Lorton near Cockermouth. Take the Keswick road at Lorton and drive over the Whinlatter mountain pass, which has fine views over Bassenthwaite Lake as you descend. You will have seen seven lakes on your tour and experienced three mountain passes.
ROUTE
From Windermere drive to Keswick. Take the B5289 road south to Grange (cafe here). Just beyond is a car park and short path to the Bowder stone. It is believed to be a stone left by a glacier but recently this theory has been challenged and there is evidence that it fell from the crags above. Drive on to Rosthwaite (pub here) and Seatoller.
Go carefully over Honister Pass ( there is a car park on the pass and a slate mining centre). Drive down to the lake and park in Buttermere. Take a stroll down to the lake and see the nearby Sourmilk Gill waterfalls. If you continue along the easy lake shore path (3 miles) you will be taking the best low level circular walk in the Lake District.
Alternatively return to the car park and take the path beside the stream to Crummock Water.
If you want to see the highest waterfall in the Lake District take the path to the north west and clamber up to Scale Force.
There are two beer gardens in the village, a farm shop opposite the church and a cafe at the green. The Fish Inn was once famous as the proprietors daughter was often admired by visiting gentry going on the daily coach trip from Keswick to see the waterfall (Scale Force) near Buttermere. She unfortunately married a bigamist who left her shortly afterwards. He was hanged in Carlisle on a charge of fraud as he ran up great debts while impersonating a gentleman.
ONLINE MAP
Use streetmap.co.uk and click on the GB place button. Type in Buttermere. Click on SEARCH to view a location map. To see a 1-25,000 map click in the middle of the icons below the map.For other locations eg 'Seatoller' repeat the above.
JOURNEY
Estimated times:
09:00 Depart Windermere
on A591
09:38 Arrive at Keswick
Continue (South) on Borrowdale Road B5289
10.00 At Seatoller climb the hairpin bends to Honister Pass
10:20 Arrive Buttermere
SUMMARY:Narrow roads and hairpin bends on mountain passes make this one of the most exciting drives in the Lake District.
Driving distance: Windermere to Buttermere: 35 miles
Trip duration: 1 hour, 20 minutes
PARKING
Please do not park in passing places. The number of car parks is limited in the Lake District and it is sensible to arrive early to avoid disappointment. This is especially so for Buttermere.
NOTE
The above times are estimates and in busy summer months some delays due to congestion is inevitable on the narrow roads.
Honister Pass has a 33% gradient so you will need to select a low gear as soon as possible. The scenery is awe inspiring, especially as you descend beside the towering crags!
When Wordsworth crossed these passes by stagecoach the passengers had to walk alongside the horses!